Hey ya'll! My name is Sara and I am the maker, dreamer, homesteader, beekeeper, and herbalist behind Willow Moon Farm. Willow Moon Farm is a Certified Naturally Grown farm. We are located in the Blue Ridge Mountains in Gore, Virginia. Here at Willow Moon Farm we believe in sustainable agriculture. What does that mean? We believe in Organic practices but our standards are even higher than that- we hand pick bugs off of our plants and hand pick our weeds, we grow with Organic Non-GMO seeds and we never use pesticides (not even non-synthetic ones). Everything is done with our hands, truly giving handmade a new feel. The herbal products are made from start to finish at the farm. Nothing comes pre-mixed, everything is made from scratch. I believe I should make the whole product and personally know each ingredient that is used in my offerings. 90% of the oils, butters and waxes that are used are Certified Organic and fair trade. The plant allies that are used are either grown on the farm Certified Naturally Grown, ethically wild crafted or purchased Certified Organic as a last resort. I started this business while I was pregnant with my son back in 2016. I had just put in my two weeks notice at an extremely stressful property management position and decided to be a stay at home mom to raise my child who would be arriving in the next couple of months. I became very creative during this time but one day I decided to make some organic sugar scrubs with essential oils and put them into mason jars to use and to share with friends and family. They were a big hit and I had people wanting to purchase more from me. A month later I joined my mother in a "mind body and spirit" craft show and sold my sugar scrubs at her booth. I just about sold out and was so ecstatic about the outcome. I had my son shortly after and lost my creative outlet until my son became more mobile. I was basically a zombie for the first year of my sons life as he would be up every 30 minutes - an hour for the first 6 months of his life. As he became more independent I slowly got back into my creative groove. I did my first big craft show in December of 2017 where I had so much support I was blown away! I knew then that this was my nitch this was what I was suppose to be doing so I could stay home with my son but also contribute to my family. During this realization we decided to sell our house and look for land as I KNEW I was going to need more space but also I wanted my son to grow up on the land just like I did. We had 5+ acres but our house was built into the side of a mountain so it was all sloped and no yard. During this process my husband was called out to my childhood home in Gore, VA to power wash the house before they put it on the market. My husband called me as soon as he left and I said "LET'S BUY IT!!!" and that is what we did, the house never even hit the market. There is a longer story to this with more details as so many things happened on their own and showed us that this was truly meant to be. I was meant to come back here and raise my son here but I was also meant to come back here to grow my business. Look out for a blog on this topic on my website in the next couple of months. Thank you for taking the time to get to know more about me and what we do here. We appreciate your support more than you know. When you support my small business, you are supporting my dream! THANK YOU! -Sara
What is your medium of choice?
Herbal remedies- botanical skincare + hair care products, goat's milk soaps & natural soy candles
Why have you chosen your current medium?
I'm not sure I have an easy answer for this question as I feel that herbalism chose me... My native American ancestors play a big role in my back to my roots mentality. I came from ancestors of farmers on both sides of my family and grew up eating organic and growing our own gardens so homesteading came naturally to me. I always wanted a big farm since I was a child. We always had more then 40 acres and grew up on the land but my parents always had careers so I found that farm life at my grandparents. Once I had my son I knew I wanted him to have a similar childhood that I had but I wanted his to be even better then mine. Once he started getting mobile we knew we had to sell our house on 5+ acres and find land. The house we were in was built into the side of a mountain.
What's your typical day?
It matters what is on the agenda. If it is spring/summer usually the typical day will be to be in the garden working with my employee Melissa by 8am. If it is Fall I am preparing for craft shows for the holidays, fulfilling online orders and working on wholesale orders for retail stores.
Why do you feel your art/craft is important/relevant today?
I feel it is very important to be using "organic" skincare products on you and your family. Your skin is your biggest organ! So what you put on your skin is just as important to what you eat. As more awareness is spread I think a good bit of the population uses natural skincare products and then you have those people who love supporting handmade + local and that is where I come in. I wanted to offer my community + others all over the world another option from store bought cosmetics. I think I am different from your average "natural bath and body products". I am growing the herbs here on my farm (that is Certified Naturally Grown) and then infusing them into the oils, butters, waxes, etc. to bring you even more healing properties your product.
What has been the most difficult challenge for you as an artist/maker?
I think the most difficult challenge for me has been to work while watching my toddler. I am a stay at home working mom which means I must work and keep the tiny human alive haha. I am constantly interrupted to go chase him around and then I have to figure out a way to occupy him while I work. It is very challenging but with the growth that has came this year I now have a baby sitter 1-2 days a week which is going to do WONDERS for me and my mental health.
What is the most gratifying part of making your work?
I think the most gratifying thing would be seeing where I am today and looking back from where I came. I started making sugar scrubs and kept my "display" on a bookshelf in a spare room. Now I have my own apothecary building say whatttt?!?! It is MIND BLOWING to me! I also find a lot of gratification in my reviews and when customers reach out to message me directly and let me know how much they are loving their products.
Shop Willow Moon Farm at: https://www.willowmoonfarm.org
Herbal remedies- botanical skincare + hair care products, goat's milk soaps & natural soy candles
Why have you chosen your current medium?
I'm not sure I have an easy answer for this question as I feel that herbalism chose me... My native American ancestors play a big role in my back to my roots mentality. I came from ancestors of farmers on both sides of my family and grew up eating organic and growing our own gardens so homesteading came naturally to me. I always wanted a big farm since I was a child. We always had more then 40 acres and grew up on the land but my parents always had careers so I found that farm life at my grandparents. Once I had my son I knew I wanted him to have a similar childhood that I had but I wanted his to be even better then mine. Once he started getting mobile we knew we had to sell our house on 5+ acres and find land. The house we were in was built into the side of a mountain.
What's your typical day?
It matters what is on the agenda. If it is spring/summer usually the typical day will be to be in the garden working with my employee Melissa by 8am. If it is Fall I am preparing for craft shows for the holidays, fulfilling online orders and working on wholesale orders for retail stores.
Why do you feel your art/craft is important/relevant today?
I feel it is very important to be using "organic" skincare products on you and your family. Your skin is your biggest organ! So what you put on your skin is just as important to what you eat. As more awareness is spread I think a good bit of the population uses natural skincare products and then you have those people who love supporting handmade + local and that is where I come in. I wanted to offer my community + others all over the world another option from store bought cosmetics. I think I am different from your average "natural bath and body products". I am growing the herbs here on my farm (that is Certified Naturally Grown) and then infusing them into the oils, butters, waxes, etc. to bring you even more healing properties your product.
What has been the most difficult challenge for you as an artist/maker?
I think the most difficult challenge for me has been to work while watching my toddler. I am a stay at home working mom which means I must work and keep the tiny human alive haha. I am constantly interrupted to go chase him around and then I have to figure out a way to occupy him while I work. It is very challenging but with the growth that has came this year I now have a baby sitter 1-2 days a week which is going to do WONDERS for me and my mental health.
What is the most gratifying part of making your work?
I think the most gratifying thing would be seeing where I am today and looking back from where I came. I started making sugar scrubs and kept my "display" on a bookshelf in a spare room. Now I have my own apothecary building say whatttt?!?! It is MIND BLOWING to me! I also find a lot of gratification in my reviews and when customers reach out to message me directly and let me know how much they are loving their products.
Shop Willow Moon Farm at: https://www.willowmoonfarm.org
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